Module- IV

Suspension System
The frame as well body of the vehicle is attached to the

rear axle and the front axle by springs. These springs damp the road shock transmitted to the body structure by the wheels when they travel over the road. In this way the springs are the protecting units supported directly by the frame of the vehicle Therefore all the parts which perform the function of isolating the automobile from the road shocks are collectively called a suspension system.

Objects of Suspension system

To prevent the road shocks from being transmitted to

the vehicle components. To safeguard the occupants from road shocks. To preserve the stability of vehicle in pitching or rolling, while in motion.

Types of suspension springs

The various springs may be classified as follows: 1)Steel Springs. i. Leaf spring ii. Tapered leaf spring iii. Coil spring iv. Torsion bar 2) Rubber Springs i. Compression spring ii. Compression shear spring iii. Steel- reinforced spring iv. Progressive spring v. Face shear spring vi. Torsional shear spring

3) Plastic spring
4) Air spring 5) Hydraulic spring

LEAF SPRINGS
Semi-elliptical leaf springs are almost universally used for suspension in light and heavy and commercial vehicles.
Longitudinal leaf spring suspension is generally used in

conjunction with the Hotchkiss drive.

The leaf springs must be made strong and resilient

enough to transmit the driving thrust and torque and to resist side ways, in addition to support the spring weight of the body.

The spring weight is kept as less as possible

 Because the springs do not generally support the wheels,

rims , tyres, brakes and rear axle, the weight of these parts is called unsprung weight. is clamped to the rear axle housing by U-bolts, its each end is pivoted to the frame, by means of eyes formed in the ends of the longest leaf.

The spring consists of a number of leaves called blades. These

blades vary in length. The composite spring is based upon the theory of a beam of uniform strength. The lengthiest blade has eyes on its ends. This blade is called, master leaf. All the blades are bound together by means of steel strips.

 The spring is supported on the axle, front or rear. One end

of the spring is mounted on the frame with a simple pin, while on the other end, connection is made with a shackle. The spring elongates in compression and shorten in expansion, This change in length of the spring is compensated by the shackle At the intermediate position of the spring length, the rebound clips are located. They are loose enough to permit the leaves to slide one on the other, and yet tight enough to hold these leaves together when the spring rebound. The spring eyes are usually provided with bushings or some anti frictional material such as bronze or rubber

 Shackles are a sort of links by means of which leaf

springs are connected with the chassis frame. The shackles provide swinging ability to the leaf springs. Due to shock on the road wheel, the spring flattens up and increase in length rebound the spring assumes back shape there by in length. The shackles make the springs swing in and out. One end of the link is connected with the chassis frame and through the end connection is made with the spring by means of the shackle bolt or pin.

Shackle at rear end

Shackle at front end

Shock Absorbers
A springing device must be a compromise between flexibility and

stiffness. If it is more rigid , it will not absorb road shocks efficiently and if it is more flexible it will continue to vibrate even after the bump has passed. So we must have sufficient damping of spring to prevent excessive flexing Friction between the leaves of a leaf spring provides this damping , but because of uncertainty of lubrication conditions , the amount of friction also varies and hence damping characteristics do not remain constant. For this reason ,the friction between springs is reduced to minimum and additional damping is provided by means of devices called dampers or shock absorbers Shock absorber thus control excessive spring vibration. It is a device which introduces resistance to the motion of the spring and road wheel so as to damp out vibrations

Types of shock absorbers

Friction type Hydraulic type
Friction type: Almost become obsolete because of non

predictable damping characteristics. Hydraulic shock absorber: principle of operation: When the piston forces the fluid in a cylinder to pass through some hole , a high resistance to the movement of piston is developed , which provides damping effect. The advantage of the fluid type is that the fluid resistance is proportional to the square of the speed and so increases rapidly with the speed of the suspension movement.

Telescopic type shock absorber

 The device consists of two valves, A and B. Rod G is attached to the two way valve A. while another, similar two-way valve B is attached at the lower end of cylinder C. There is fluid in the space above valve A, below valve A and also in the annular space between cylinder C and tube D, which is connected to the space below the valve B. H is a gland in the head J and any fluid

scrapped off by rod G is brought down into the annular space through the inclined passage shown in head. The eye E is connected to the axle. While the eye F is attached to chassis frame. The fluid generally used in shock absorbers is a mixture of 60 percent transformer oil and 40 percent turbine oil.

 CONSTRUCTION:
The device consists of two valves, A and B. Rod G is

attached to the two way valve A. while another, similar twoway valve B is attached at the lower end of cylinder C. There is fluid in the space above valve A, below valve A and also in the annular space between cylinder C and tube D, which is connected to the space below the valve B. H is a gland in the head J and any fluid scrapped off by rod G is brought down into the annular space through the inclined passage shown in head. The eve E is connected to the axle. While the eye F is attached me chassis frame. The fluid generally used in shock absorbers is a mixture of 60 percent transformer oil and 40 percent turbine oil.

ACTION OF THE SHOCK ABSORBER

When the vehicle has come across a bump, then eye E

would move up and there by the fluid will pass from the lower side of valve A to its upper side. But since the volume of the space above A is less by the volume of the rod G, the fluid will also exert its pressure on the valve assembly B and go to underside of the valve B. This passing of fluid through valve opening provides the damping Similarly for downward motion of eye E , the fluid will pass from the upper side of the valve assembly A to lower side of valve assembly B to its upper side.